Method and apparatus for making blanks for containers and the like



Feb. 14, 1967 F. DOLLHEIMER 3,304,193

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BLANKS FOR CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE FiledOct. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. FIMIVZ DOLL HE/MER,

| O NEYJ.

Feb. 14, 1967 F. DOLLHEIMER 3,304,193

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BLANKS FOR CONTAINERS AND THE LIKE FiledOct. 9. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lfl N 0' (\l j u' N I F PO 2' LI- 2INVENTOR. L

FRANZ DOLLHEIM E R TOR NE Y3,

United States 3,304,193 g METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BLANKS FORCONTAINERS AND THE LIKE Franz Dollheimer, Valtlosta, Ga., assignor toOwens- Illinois Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 9, 1963, Ser. No.315,000 6 Claims. (Cl. 117-4) This invention relates to the manufactureof containers of the type made up of substantially rectangular blanks ofsheet material which may be scored to define the edges of the walls insuch a manner that the blank, when folded along the scored lines andjoined together at its ends, will form the container.

The blanks may be conveniently formed by feeding a continuous web ofsheet material, such as cardboard, through scoring and cutting rollswith the cutting rolls severing selected lengths of the web materialfrom the continuous web. It is desirable to apply a strip of adhesive tothe blank, generally along one edge thereof, before the blank is severedfrom the web. One complication arising from this type of procedure isthat when the adhesive is applied before the blank passes through thecutters, adhesive material accumulates on the cutter blades requiringfrequent stoppages in order to remove the adhesive from the blades.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method of andapparatus for cutting blanks for making containers and the like from aweb of sheet material in which a strip of adhesive is applied to theblank prior to its being severed from the web in such a manner that theblades of the cutters do not come in contact with the adhesive.

A further object is to provide an improve-d method and apparatus forsuccessively cutting blanks of selected lengths for containers and thelike from a continuous moving web of sheet material and applying anadhesive strip to the blank prior to its being completely severed fromthe continuous web.

In achievement of theforegoing, and other objects, a web of material iscontinuously fed along a fixed path with the leading end of the webdefining the leading end of each blank as the blanks are successivelycut from the web. As the web advances along the fixed path, it is firstprecut along a line spaced from the leading end of the web a distancewhich is equal to the length of the blank such that the precut linedefines a portion of the trailing end of the blank. The length of theprecut is less than the width of the web, and after passing theprecutter, the advancing web engages an adhesive applicator whichapplies a relatively narrow strip of adhesive to the web, which strip isnormal to the precut and has a width less than the length of the precut.Therefore, the precut extends beyond the edges of the adhesive strip.The blank is then severed from the web by a main cutter positionedbetween the adhesive applicator and the discharge end of the path alongwhich the web travels. The main cutter severes the remaining portion ofthe line defining the trailing end of the blank that is free ofadhesive. The precutter and main cutter are interconnected by a drivemeans which cyclically operates the cutters in timed sequence so thatthe line of the main cut is coextensive with the line of the precut butdoes not extend into the adhesive strip. Consequently, neither theprecutter nor main cutter blades come into contact with-the adhesivematerial.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying the invention in itspreferred form;

3,3611% Patented Feb. 14, 1967 FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines22 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 diagrammatically illustrate the suc cessive steps ofprecutting, applying adhesive, and severing the blank from the web.

With reference to FIGS.- 3, 4 and S, a web A of mate= rial iscontinuously fed from a supply (not shown) along a fixed path in adirection of the arrows of FIGS. 3, 4

and 5. At selected intervals, a precutter partially severs the web alonga line B which is spaced from the leading end of the web a distanceequal to the length of the blank to be cut therefrom. After the leadingend of the web passes the precutter, it engages an applicator whichapplies a strip C of adhesive material to the web which intersects theprecut line B and has a width less than the length of the precut line B.As the web continues to advance, the precut line B registers with a maincutter which then severs the web along a line D which is coextensivewith line B, with lines D and B together defining the trailing end ofthe finished blank E. The length of the main cut (i.e. line D) is equalto the width of the web less the length of line B. Consequently, neitherthe precutter nor main cutter blades come in contact with the adhesivestrip C.

Apparatus for performing the above operations is illustrated in FIG. 1and 2 wherein reference numeral 10 identifies a frame including frontand rear frame members 12 and 14, respectively, and side frame members16 and 18. Rear frame member 14 defines the inlet end of the fixed pathalong which the web travels for the cutting and adhesive applyingoperation, and front frame member 12 defines the discharge end of thepath.

Cross-brace members 24 are mounted between side frame members 16 and 18intermediate the front and rear frame members. Frame 10 is supported ona platform 20 which in turn is mounted on vertical support members 22(FIG. 2).

Mounted between side frame members 16 and 18 in succession from theinlet end 11 to the discharge end 13 is a length scoring assembly 26, aprecutter assembly 28, a cross-scoring assembly 39, a draw roll assembly32, a main cutter assembly 34, and a delivery roll assembly 36.Supported at the inlet end of the frame on conventional brackets is apair of opposed entrance rolls 40 and 42.

The leading end of web A from a supply (not shown) is fed betweenentrance rolls 40 and 42 and is thereafter successively scored in alengthwise direction by assembly 26, precut along line B by assembly 28,and scored transversely by assembly 30. As the web advances beyondcross-scoring assembly 30, it engages an adhesive appplicator 38 whichis connected through a supply line 39 with a supply of adhesive.Adhesive strip C is applied to the web, usually along one edge, as itpasses applicator 38. Draw roll assembly 32 then advances the webthrough main cutter assembly 34 where blank E is severed from the weband is thereafter discharged from the apparatus by the delivery rollassembly 36.

In the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, length scoring assembly 26 includes a pair of spaced female scoring rolls 44 and cooperating malescoring rolls 46 mounted respectively on parallel, vertically spacedshafts 4S and 50. Shafts 48 and 50 are journalled for rotation in sideframe members 16 and 18. Female scoring rolls 44 are each formed with acircumferential groove 44' engaged with a circumferential scoring blade46' on the associated male scoring roll 46.

Precutter assembly 28 consists of a pair of drums 52 and 54 fixed toshafts 56 and 58, respectively, which shafts in turn are journalled forrotation between side frame members 16 and 18. Mounted in drum 52 alongan axis parallel to the axis of shafts 56 and 58 is a blade 60 whichcooperates in timed sequence with a pair of oppositely disposed bearingblocks 62 carried by drum 54 to precut the web normal to itslongitudinal axis at predetermined intervals as the web advances fromthe inlet to the discharge end of frame 10.

Cross-scoring assembly 30 includes a plurality of axially spaced,opposed pairs of drums 64 and 66 mounted, respectively, on shafts 68 and70. Drums 64 carry four grooved bars 72 which cooperate with scoringblades 74 carried by drums 66 to score the web of material crosswise asit passes between drums 64 and 66. In the illustrated apparatus, fourcross-scores are applied to each blank by assembly 30.

Draw r-oll assembly 32 includes a pair of laterally spaced discs 76fixed to a rotatable shaft 73. Disks '76 cooperate with a cylindricalroll 80 mounted on a shaft 82 which is vertically spaced from shaft 78as shown in FIG. 2. Disks 76 and cylindrical roll 80 are driven inopposite directions by their respective shafts as indicated by thearrows in FIG. 2.

As the leading end of the web passes beyond draw roll assembly 32, theblanks are severed from the web by the main cutting assembly 34 whichincludes axially spaced drum members 84 mounted on a rotatable shaft 86.Drums 84 support a main cutter blade 88 which cooperates with a fixedblade $9 mounted on a support 92 to sever selected lengths of blanksfrom the web.

As the blanks are severed from the web by blades 88 and 90, they arepicked up and delivered from the frame by delivery assembly 36. Mountedon a shaft 180 is a pair of spaced delivery disks 98 which cooperatewith a cylindrical roll 94 mounted on a shaft 96 to discharge thesevered blanks from frame 10. Disk 98 is formed with a reduced diameterportion 102 defining a pair of shoulders 104- at the periphery of disks98 which are spaced diametrically opposite each other. When the smalldiameter portion 102 of disks 98 are opposite cylindrical roll 4, aspace greater than the thickness of the web is defined between the disksand the cylindrical roll. However, when the small diameter portion 182is out of registry with roll 94, the large diameter port-ion of disks 98engages the severed blank and slightly compresses it against roll 94 torapidly deliver the severed blank from the frame.

Disposed between the cross-scoring assembly 30 and draw-roll assembly 32is a shaft 106 which is rotatably mounted in frame members 16 and 18.Additionally, shaft-s 108 and 110 are rotatably mounted in side framemembers 16 and 18 between the main cutter assembly 34 and delivery disks98 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Shafts 68, 70, 106, 78, 82, 86 and 1% are interconnected through a geartrain 112 (FIG. 1) on the ends of the shafts adjacent side frame members16, and shafts 108, 110, 100 and 96 are interconnected through a geartrain 114 on the ends of the latter shafts adjacent side frame member18.

Shaft 78 is formed with an extension 78 projecting outwardly from sideframe 18 which is connected with a shaft 118 through bevel gears 126 and122 on shaft extension 78' and 118, respectively. Shaft 118 is furtherconnected with shaft 56 through meshed bevel gears 124, 126, and withshaft 48 through meshed bevel gears 128 and 139. Shafts 48 and 50 areinterconnected through gears 132 and 134 on their respective endsadjacent ,side frame member 18, and shafts 56 and S8 of the precutterassembly are interconnected through gears 136 and 138 at theirrespective ends adjacent side frame member 18.

In one embodiment of the invention, the gear ratios are such that whenpower is supplied through shaft 56, for example, to rotate shaft 56 200rpm, shaft 58 of the precutter assembly rotates in the oppositedirection 150 rpm. The directions of rotation of the various shafts isindicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. With shaft 56 rotating at 200 rpm,shafts 48 and 50 of the length scoring assembly 36 may rotaterespectively at speeds of 200 rpm. and 150 r.p.m., shafts 68 and of thecross-scoring assembly will rotate at r.p.m., shafts 78 and 82 of thedraw roll assembly will each rotate at speeds of rpm, and shafts 86 and100 of the main cutter assembly 34 and delivery disk 98, respectively,will each rotate at speeds of 100 rpm. It should be understood that theforegoing values are exemplary only and are not to be construed in alimiting sense as varying conditions and types of containers may beaccommodated by other arrangements without departing from the invention.

The path of web A from entrance rolls 40 and 42 to the delivery ordischarge end of the assembly is indicated by the phantom line in FIG.2. With the gear ratios and shaft speeds outlined above, length scoringassembly 26 continuously applies parallel, longitudinal scores throughout the length of the web, and crossscoring ass embl'y 31) applies fourcross-scores throughout the width of the web, for each blank that is tobe cut from the web. As the web passes through precutter assembly 28,blade 60 makes two complete revolutions for each length of blank anddrum 54 makes one and one-half revolutions per blank with the resultthat one precut B (FIG. 3) is applied along the trailing end of eachblank. As the leading end of the blank passes applicator 38, adhesivesuch as polyvinyl acetate is continuously supplied through conduit 39from a source (not shown) preferably along the edge of the web as shownin FIGS. 4 and 5. The strip C of adhesive has a width less than thelength of precut B and intersects the precut with the result that theprecut extends beyond the edge of adhesive strip C.

When the leading end of the blank to be cut from the web passes drawroll assembly 32 and main cutoff assembly 34, blade 88 reaches theposition shown in FIG. 2, just as the trailing end of the blankregisters with blade 99, and the trailing end of the blank is severedfrom the web. The length of blade 83 is such that it does not come intocontact with the adhesive strip C. The leading end of the blank reachescylindrical roll 84 prior to the time that blades 88 and 9t) sever theblank from the web and the small diameter portion of disks 98 are in aposition degrees from that shown in FIG. 2 such that disks 93 are not incontact with the blank. The gear ratios are such that disks 98 reach theposition shown in 2 simultaneously with the main cutoif operation andone of the shoulders 104 at the ends of the large diameter por tion ofdisks 198 engages the severed blank to discharge it from the apparatus.As a result the blank, after being severed, is ejected from the machineat a faster rate than the web is travelling through the machine.

Since the length of blade 88 is such that it does not come in contactwith the adhesive strips C, and the precut is applied before theadhesive strip is applied, neither of blades 60 or 88 are subjected to abuildup of adhesive, which would require frequent shutdowns in order toclean the blades.

While I have described and illustrated one embodiment of my invention, Iwish it understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely thereto,but that I do intend to cover all modifications thereof which would beapparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the scope andspirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of cutting rectangular blanks of material from a continuousweb by severing selected lengths of the material from the web to defineone end of the blank, with the leading end and side edges of the webdefining the other end and side edges, respectively, of the blank, andapplying a relatively narrow, longitudinal strip of ad hesive throughoutthe length of the blank, comprising the steps of;

precutting the web along a line defining said one end of the blank for adistance slightly greater than the width of said adhesive strip and lessthan the width of the blank,

applying said strip of adhesive between the precut and the leading endof the web with the adhesive strip intersecting said precut,

and thereafter cutting the remainder of the blank from the web alongthat portion of said line that is free of adhesive.

2. A method of making blanks for containers and the like by successivelycutting the blanks from a continuously moving web of sheet materialhaving a length substantially greater than the length of the blankscomprising;

precutting the Web along a line spaced from the leading end of the web adistance equal to the length of the blank with the length of the precutbeing less than the width of the web,

applying a strip of adhesive to the blank that intersects the precut andhas a width less than the length of the precut,

and thereafter severing the blank from the web by cut ting that portionof the web free of adhesive along a line coextensive with the precut.

3. In apparatus for making blanks for containers and the like bysuccessively cutting the blanks from a continuous web of material withthe leading end of the web defining the leading end of each blank;

means for precutting the web along a line spaced from the leading end ofthe web and defining the trailing end of the blank,

means for thereafter applying a longitudinal strip of adhesive to theweb which intersect the precut and has a Width less than the length ofthe precut,

and means for thereafter severing the blank from the web along thatportion of said line that is free of adhesive. 4. Apparatus for makingblanks for containers and the like comprising;

means for feeding a continuous web of material having a leading enddefining the leading end of the blank,

means for successively precutting the web at a selected distance fromthe leading end thereof with the length of the precut being less thanthe width of the Web,

means for sequentially applying a strip of adhesive material having awidth less than the length of the precut between the leading end of theweb and the precut with the strip of adhesive intersecting the precutsuch that a portion of the precut extends beyond the edge of theadhesive strip,

and means for thereafter severing the web completely along a linecoextensive with said non-adhesive portion of the precut. 5. Apparatusfor making blanks for containers comprising;

means for continuously advancing a web of sheet material along a fixedpath having an inlet end and a discharge end,

means for applying a continuous, longitudinal strip of adhesive to theweb as it is advanced along said fixed path,

precutter means positioned along said path between the inlet end and theadhesive applying means cyclically operable to precut the web atselected intervals along a line disposed transversely of thelongitudinal axis of the web for a distance less than the width of theweb,

main cutoff means positioned along said path between the outlet end andthe adhesive applying means cyclically operable to sever the web along aline disposed transversely of its longitudinal axis for a distance equalto the width of the web less the length of said precut line,

and means interconnecting said precutter means and main cutoff means foroperating the precutting means and main cutoff means in timed sequencesuch that the main cutoff line is coextensive with the precut line tosuccessively sever selected lengths of blanks from the web.

6. Apparatus for making blanks for containers and the like comprising;

a frame having side frame members defining a fixed path having an inletend and a discharge end,

means for advancing a continuous web of sheet material along said fixedpath from said inlet end toward said discharge end,

a precutter assembly mounted in said fixed path includa pair of opposedvertically spaced drums journalled for rotation in said side framemembers,

a precutter blade carried by one of said drums at the periphery thereofand disposed along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of saidfixed path,

bearing means carried by the other of said drums cyclically engageablewith said precutter blade to partially sever the advancing web atselected intervals along one edge thereof on a line transverse to itslongitudinal axis,

adhesive applyingmeans engageable by the web as it advances beyond saidprecutter assembly toward said discharge end for continuously applying alongitudinal strip of adhesive to said one edge of the web, which striphas a width less than the length of the precut,

a main cutter assembly mounted in said fixed path between the adhesiveapplying means and the discharge end including:

a fixed blade mounted between said side frame members transversely ofsaid fixed path having a length such that one end thereof terminatesshort of said one edge a distance equal to the length of the precutterblade,

drum means journalled for rotation in said side frame members,

a main cutter blade carried by said drum means for cooperating with saidfixed blade with each cycle of rotation of said drum to partially severthe web from said one end of said fixed blade to the other edge of theweb,

and drive means interconnecting the precutter and main cutter foroperating the main cutter in timed sequence with the precutter such thatthe precut portion of the web registers with the main cutter with eachcycle of operation of the main cutter to successively sever selectedlengths of blanks from the web.

No references cited.

RALPH S. KENDALL, Primary Examiner. ALAN M. GRIMALDI, AssistantExaminer.

1. A METHOD OF CUTTING RECTANGULAR BLANKS OF MATERIAL FROM A CONTINUOUSWEB BY SEVERING SELECTED LENGTHS OF THE MATERIAL FROM THE WEB TO DEFINEONE END OF THE BLANK, WITH THE LEADING END AND SIDE EDGES OF THE WEBDEFINING THE OTHER END AND SIDE EDGES, RESPECTIVELY, OF THE BLANK, ANDAPPLYING A RELATIVELY NARROW, LONGITUDINAL STRIP OF ADHESIVE THROUGHOUTTHE LENGTH OF THE BLANK, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF; PRECUTTING THE WEBALONG A LINE DEFINING SAID ONE END OF THE BLANK FOR A DISTANCE SLIGHTLYGREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID ADHESIVE STRIP AND LESS THAN THE WIDTH OFTHE BLANK, APPLYING SAID STRIP OF ADHESIVE BETWEEN THE PERCUT AND THELEADING END OF THE WEB WITH THE ADHESIVE STRIP INTERSECTING SAID PRECUT,AND THEREAFTER CUTTING THE REMAINDER OF THE BLANK FROM THE WEB ALONG THEPORTION OF SAID LINE THAT IS FREE OF ADHESIVE.